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Author(s): Skaiste Sendzikaite [sup.1] , Rita Sudikiene [sup.1] , Virgilijus Tarutis [sup.1] , Inguna Lubaua [sup.2] , Pauls Silis [sup.2] , Agata Rybak [sup.3] , Augustina Jankauskiene [sup.1] , Mieczyslaw [...], Background This study aimed to evaluate hemodynamic phenotypes and prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy in children after coarctation repair with right arm and leg blood pressure difference < 20 mmHg. Secondary objectives were analysis of effects of age at intervention, residual gradient across the descending aorta, and type of correction. Methods Blood pressure status and left ventricular hypertrophy were diagnosed according to European Society of Hypertension 2016 guidelines. Results Of 90 patients with a median age 12.5 (8.9-15.8) years, 8.5 (6.0-11.8) years after coarctation repair who were included, 42 (46.7%) were hypertensive. Isolated systolic hypertension dominated among 29 hypertensive patients with uncontrolled or masked hypertension (25 of 29; 86.2%). Of the 48 patients with office normotension, 14.6% (7) had masked hypertension, 8.3% (4) had ambulatory prehypertension, and 54.2% (26) were truly normotensive. Left ventricular hypertrophy was diagnosed in 29 patients (32.2%), including 14 of 42 (33.3%) hypertensive and 15 of 48 (31.3%) normotensive patients. The peak systolic gradient across the descending aorta was greater in hypertensive subjects (33.3 ± 12.7 mmHg) compared with normotensive subjects (25 ± 8.2 mmHg, p = 0.0008). Surgical correction was performed earlier than percutaneous intervention (p < 0.0001) and dominated in 40 of 48 (83.3%) normotensive versus 24 of 42 (57.1%) hypertensive patients (p = 0.006). Conclusions Arterial hypertension with isolated systolic hypertension as the dominant phenotype and left ventricular hypertrophy are prevalent even after successful coarctation repair. Coarctation correction from the age of 9 years and older was associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension.

Coarctation of the aorta (AoCo) accounts for 6-10% of congenital heart diseases in infants. We analysed echocardiographic findings of patients operated on for AoCo in the University Hospital for Children in Riga during the first year of life to evaluate the long-term findings. Fifty-nine children underwent surgical correction of AoCo at the age of 55 ± 61 days. The methods of surgical correction were anastomosis end-to-end (ETE) in 29% (n = 17), subclavian flap aortoplasty (SFA) in 64% (n = 38) and extended anastomosis end-to-end (EETE) in 7% (n = 4). Recoarctation developed in 15 patients (25%) with no difference between surgical techniques (P > 0.05). The recoarcation patients had left ventricle hypertrophy (left ventricle mass index (LVMi) 76 ± 19 g/m2.7) normalising after angioplasty (LVMi 42 ± 7 g/m2.7). Patients with recoarctation had a decreased pulsed wave (PW) Doppler systolic/diastolic ratio in abdominal aorta 2.3 ± 0.4 versus patientswithout recoarctation 5.3 ± 1.2 and the control group 6.3 ± 1.4 (P < 0.05). A high incidence of recoarctation exists in patients operated on for AoCo as small infants. Life-long surveillance is required to monitor and to intervene in a timely way. Supplementation of the echocardiographic protocol with an evaluation of PW Doppler flow pattern in abdominal aorta can provide additional information about the presence of obstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lymphatic disorders such as protein-losing enteropathy, plastic bronchitis, and chylothorax are important complications of the Fontan circulation and ultimately result in an increased risk of early death. Several European centers are now performing lymphatic procedures. The aim of this study is to map the extent of these lymphatic disorders and treatments provided across European pediatric cardiology centers., Methods and Results: A survey was circulated to 49 European pediatric cardiology centers consisting of 37 questions including a mix of binary, categorical, and continuous variables. Thirty-one centers (63%) participated in the study, performing a median of 250 (interquartile range, 178 - 313) cardiopulmonary bypass procedures per year. Chylothorax emerged as the most prevalent lymphatic disorder followed by protein-losing enteropathy and plastic bronchitis. The most common diagnostic investigation method was noncontrast magnetic resonance lymphangiography (52%). Eleven centers (35%) conducted lymphatic interventions with a median of 3 (interquartile range, 1 - 4) procedures per year and 12 (interquartile range, 5 - 15) interventions in total per center., Conclusions: This study confirms the rarity of and variation in treatment approaches for lymphatic disorders across Europe. With at least 11 centers offering lymphatic interventions, the adoption of these procedures is on the rise in Europe. To improve the quality of care and treatment outcomes for these complex patients, it is crucial to consider evidence-based lymphatic diagnostics, interventional lymphatic procedures, and the centralization of services in Europe.